Ready to go! Register now for Early Learning Center classes beginning Fall 2021. Visit edinaschools.org/EarlyLearning Experience Edina Public Schools /Spring 2021 Students use storytelling, technology to Noteworthy connect with assisted living community Seven EHS Seniors identified as Presidential Scholars candidates Seven Edina High School seniors are candidates for the U.S. Presidential Scholars Program. These students were identified by their outstanding perfor- mance on the ACT and are now eligible to submit applications to continue on to the semifinal- ist stage. The candidates are: Nicholas Fu, Evan Jiang, Shreya Konkimalla, Arjun Maheshwari, Chloe E. Swanson, Elise Wallen-Friedman, and Alexis Shuyan Yi. Anna Fiddelke was one of many Valley View eighth graders who shared their fractured fairy tales with residents at The Waters in Edina. ighth graders at Valley View Middle School found “I was impressed by the teachers coming up with such a a way to bring the magic of storytelling beyond great idea,” said Rudy, one of The Waters residents who their classrooms and into the living spaces of the was the recipient of a fairy tale. “I was also impressed Eresidents of The Waters of Edina senior living apartments by the children’s imagination in taking fairy tales that through the access of technology. they heard as young children and coming up with After reading “The Princess Bride” in class, students another story.” were given an assignment to write their own fractured Other residents felt similarly. “They showed great fairy tales. They took a known fairy tale and fractured imagination and a clever use of the tales that they had archetypes and elements from the story, including writing picked,” said Bill and Lu. techniques from William Goldman, author of “The EHS Senior wins Princess Bride.” As the students were in the process of Athena Award “I think it’s important to give working on their stories, language arts teachers Rhonda EHS senior Haley Reeck has Geere and Margaret Smith had the idea to give them an students an authentic been named the 2021 Athena opportunity to share their stories — specifically, with audience when possible.” Award winner. Haley plays var- the residents of The Waters of Edina. sity soccer and lacrosse and is a captain on both teams. She will “I live near one of The Waters locations so that is why “It was great! Thank you so much,” said Rich. be honored by the Minneapolis I chose them to contact,” said Geere. “We worked with “I think it’s important to give students an authentic Athena Banquet committee the activities directors, Karen Staggert and Karissa along with other metro Athena audience when possible and I know how older adults Poppenhagen. I have thought about the idea on and off recipients this spring. She has generally love being around younger people, so I for some time.” committed to play Division I thought it was a great match,” said Geere. “Given the Lacrosse at Louisville. The With the pandemic still a reality, virtual options were fact that everyone is so isolated during these times and Athena Award honors an out- established for the students to connect with the residents. especially people in nursing homes and assisted living, standing female senior athlete In addition to the regular assignment, forty-five students it seemed like the perfect time. Students did not receive for their athletic achievements. sent their written stories over, 9 students recorded videos any extra credit for sharing; we simply wanted them to for viewing, and 4 students signed up to FaceTime and do it because they’d be making someone’s day brighter.” read their story personally with someone. Students who Correction were open to sharing their work wrote a short biography Want to make your day brighter? The enrollment number in the so that their readers could know them better as indi- winter issue of Experience – viduals, such as their hobbies, interests, favorite foods, Listen to Anna Fiddelke’s Annual Report was reported pets or anything they felt comfortable including. fractured fairy tale incorrectly. The correct enroll- ment for the 2019-20 school year is 8,238. Noteworthy 3 students qualify for State History Day EHS ninth graders Kathryn Hagen and Sonja Holtey, and South View eighth grader Lauren Marentette will advance to Minnesota State History Day competition after receiving high scores in the regional contest. This year’s History Day theme is Communication in History: The Key to Understanding. Kathryn and Sonja, who also competed at the state level last year, created an exhibit focused on Maya Sonja Holtey researched, interviewed experts and learned new video editing skills to create an entry for the C-SPAN Angelou. Lauren entered in the StudentCam competition. website category with a project on the Stonewall Riot. Ninth grader receives Honorable Mention in national C-SPAN competition onja Holtey, EHS ninth grader, earned an “Having a WeVideo subscription is very valuable in Honorable Mention in the 17th annual C-SPAN making this type of learning available for all of our StudentCam competition. Students from around students,” said Anderson. “Not that long ago, video Sthe nation submitted video documentaries about issues editing was something that only a few kids with outside that affect their communities and the country. Holtey’s experience or access could really use successfully. With video, titled “Healthy Food for Thought: Addressing this subscription and Mike’s assistance, it is something South View student is School Lunch Nutrition Standards,” explores the history that every single ninth grade student now can use to and evolution of the national school lunch program. further their learning.” regional spelling champ LynnClara Tun, a South View “Using a tool like WeVideo provides students with an Middle School seventh grader, “Using a tool like WeVideo additional pathway to express their learning,” said outperformed more than 40 of provides students with an Walker. “It was exciting to see the government teachers the best spellers in the Twin Cit- provide students such an authentic learning opportunity.” ies area to capture the regional additional pathway to spelling championship. She express their learning.” This year, more than 2,300 students submitted videos competed virtually in the Metro to the competition, with 150 receiving prize recognition. ECSU Spelling Bee, and will go The student videos are evaluated by a panel of educators on to represent the region in and C-SPAN representatives looking for quality of the Scripps National Spelling “This was the first year we used the StudentCam com- expression, inclusion of varying views surrounding the Bee, to be broadcast on ESPN. petition to meet our civic engagement standards,” said topics, effective incorporation of C-SPAN programming, Jason Dockter, AP U.S. Government and Politics teacher and reflection of the competition theme. With this year’s at EHS. theme, students were asked to join in national conversa- Dockter and Erik Anderson, EHS AP U.S. Government tions about challenges the country faces: “Explore the teacher, assigned students to create videos for the issue you most want the president and new Congress to competition, either individually or in a group, as a address in 2021.” part of their classwork. They coordinated with Michael Holtey concludes her documentary by asking them to Walker, the district’s secondary-level digital learning address school lunch nutritional standards and “further Experience is mailed periodically to specialist, to schedule times for him to teach students support the national school lunch program as a vital all residents in Edina Public Schools, how to access and use WeVideo, a tool provided by the investment in America’s future.” District 273, to keep you up-to-date district’s media and technology systems (DMTS) depart- on the activities and accomplishments of students, staff and the district. ment that allows students and staff to edit video online. View Sonja Holtey’s StudentCam Questions or comments are welcome Through this resource, students like Holtey were able to documentary at [email protected] craft and edit their videos. or 952.848.3919. Edina Public Schools Main: 952.848.4900 Global Scholars win awards at Model G20 Youth [email protected] Enrollment: 952.848.4585 Leadership Summit Superintendent wo Edina High School seniors, Aashna and Emma are among EHS John W. Schultz, Ph.D. Aashna Kumar and Emma students in the inaugural year of the 952.848.4000 [email protected] Johnson, won Exceptional Edina Rotary Global Scholars program, TMinisterial Delegates awards at the sponsored by Edina Rotary clubs and Edina School Board Model G20® Youth Leadership the Edina Education Fund. They [email protected] Summit. The theme of the summit participated in the Model G20 as Erica Allenburg was “Addressing Climate Change.” members of that program, which Matt Fox Aashna Kumar Emma Johnson Julie Greene Aashna Kumar won the Best Minister promotes leadership, collaboration Ellen Jones of Energy for representing South Africa, and Emma with students from other countries, and preparation Owen Michaelson Johnson won the Best Minister of the Environment and for post-high school studies and careers with a global Janie Shaw Sustainable Development for representing Australia. focus. Leny Wallen-Friedman Supporting Students – Sustaining Excellence 2021 Technology Levy & Bond Issue On May 11, 2021, Edina Public Schools will ask district voters for support in two areas of operation Did you know…. that directly and indirectly support the excellent academic opportunities we provide to all Edina students. The Technology Levy and the Bond Issue support infrastructure built by Edina taxpayers …that the Technology Levy partially over many years and represent stewardship of community investment in Edina students and schools. funds the salaries of the district’s Media Specialists? EPS is one of few districts with a media specialist in every school.